We are doing a lot to prepare for our 63rd Annual Apple Butter festival on October 8 & 9th, but today provided us with the visual gratification we needed to keep pushing forward! Thanks to all our office staff and maintenance workers, we converted the Marshall’s Office into an apothecary with Dr. Corey’s office in the back.
Dr. Corey was a prominent physician here in Geauga County, and our own Maintenance Supervisor was actually one of the last babies under his care!
We have everything displayed from 1800s wheelchairs and crutches to baby incubators and stereoptican skin disease cards. It goes from the weird and gross to the innovative and life-saving. As we opened each box of artifacts, new and intriguing objects came out and we sat laughing and reading the descriptions of each tool, kit, and test that was meant to cure all that ailed you – including cocaine pills and forks for amputations.
This building change came about due to our new educational tour that focuses on science and math. Students and youth groups tour specific buildings through our grounds that all have to do with early medicine and scientific breakthroughs. At the end of their tour, each child goes home with their very own handmade botanical research page that they collect and design on their tour here.
This is just one of the buildings that is getting a new look for the fall and winter season. We have also changed the displays in the Law House and Cook House to a “Field to Fabric” display focusing on natural dyes, washing, spinning, and loom weaving. The winter will bring about changes to our train depot as well, and our Tin Shop has been converted over to a Potter’s Shop. Many of these changes will be on display for our Apple Butter Festival, but some you will just have to come back and visit us again for next year!
I can hardly wait to come back from California to see all these fantastic changes.